‘Life hacks’ are those simple, but clever ideas for accomplishing a task more easily and efficiently. I’ve posted a few DIY projects in the past and thought I’d put together a few chicken keeping hacks to reduce some of the potential stresses that come with having chickens. These tips should simplify your life, reduce frustrations, and hopefully help save some money in the process.
These ones are all about chicks and eggs.
Repurposed Nest Boxes and Egg Collecting Shirt
Credit: Dawn Hemenway Duran Music Medleu; Unknown
Rollaway Nest Boxes
DIY roll away nesting boxes because we have an egg eater. I plan on adding a mat to make it a little more cozy. Total cost $14.75 = milk crates: free, paint trays: $1.75 x 6, hemlock 1”x6”x8”: $3.25, zip ties: $1 – Fur & Feathers Hobby Farm
Credit: Carpintaria
I had a hatching egg that from the beginning with a crack so I put it in the incubator. I also had eggs under a turkey. At day seven I candled the eggs and saw that one under the turkey was broken in two places but still alive. The power went out (solar) so I was going to move all the incubator eggs to a new broody hen.
I patched both eggs with wax (white and unscented would have been ideal but not what I could find) and a piece of feather. Today one of the patched eggs hatched after surviving two weeks under the turkey. – Elizabeth Anderson
I had a chipped/cracked egg that was basically on day 18 or 19 that I patched with a melted crayon. Here we are. Baby “Crayola” hatched today all on her own! She wasn’t super enthusiastic about the photo shoot, but in her defence, she’d been working her way out of the shell for 14 hours and had only been out for 5 or 6 when I took this. I kept a close eye on her in case she needed help, but the location of the wax wasn’t a factor. – Nancy Montgomery
Brooders
Credit: Annette Degeer; Catie Johnson
Thanks to everyone who shared their hacks and photos.
“Because knowledge is power — and feathers are optional.”
Bitchin' Chickens 
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